Chumbe Island is a 55-acre coral island, eight miles off of the coast of Zanzibar. The island’s Reef Sanctuary is a no-take area that extends 1,000 feet from the high-water mark along the western stretch of fringing coral reef. This park is the only privately managed marine protected area in this part of the world. Local fishers, who fish from traditional fishing boats with outriggers, are very supportive of the sanctuary. They see increased catches in the adjacent reefs as a result of the “spillover effect” from the no-take reserve.
Working with Chumbe Island Coral Park, Seacology is funding mooring buoys. They will be installed along the borders of the marine sanctuary for use in emergencies and severe weather.